Delaney HallDelaney Hall in Newark New Jersey stands as a symbol of what has gone wrong in America. We are a nation of immigrants; all people are created equal. When I visited Delaney Hall with the Flag of Compassion I was shaken to my core. Over 500 immigrants are incarcerated at Delaney Hall. Most have no criminal record—their only crime is seeking security and a better life for themselves and their families in America. Now they live in hot, unsanitary, and crowded conditions. They are fed food that is often spoiled and/or contaminated with rodent feces and/or maggots. There is only one doctor for the whole facility, immigrants are often denied medication, and at least three people have died there recently. As I marched with the Flag of Compassion near the gate (pictured above) at Delaney Hall in August this year, I watched as guards threatened women and children who arrived to visit incarcerated family members. Volunteers, with compassion, are camped outside the facility to help family members by providing them with water, food, and clothing if needed. Guards yell at the volunteers and have been known to spray them with pepper spray for no apparent reason. The guards at the gate can refuse family visitations for arbitrary reasons; there is no appeal. It gets uglyICE agents have been known to shoot protestors with supposedly non-lethal bullets, causing permanent bodily harm to people who are exercising their constitutional right of nonviolent protest. Delaney Hall is run by GEO Group, a corporate prison operator. GEO Group currently faces a number of serious lawsuits and allegations regarding the mistreatment of detainees. We believe Delaney Hall serves only to harass and terrorize people. Ultimately, Delaney Hall reduces America’s moral standing in the world. Recent deaths at Delaney Hall include: Jean Wilson Brutus: A 41-year-old immigrant from Haiti who died following a medical emergency shortly after his arrival. Jose Chajon-Raxon: A Guatemalan immigrant who suffered an apparent seizure in July, was taken to a hospital by emergency services, and later died. Edwin Lopez-Cornejo: A 41-year-old immigrant from El Salvador who suffered a medical emergency in August was pronounced dead at University Hospital in Newark. This we believeALL PEOPLE ARE CREATED EQUAL AND All PEOPLE SHOULD BE TREATED WITH DIGNITY
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